Now or spring is the time @natalien. Or are you not in the UK? You must need heat if starting them then, they'll need constant pinching out if kept too warm, as well as getting etiolated if inside, so you'll need to turn them regularly
If you do them now, they'll germinate slowly, and slow down as it gets cooler, rarely needing any pinching out, just protection from the worst of winter weather - cold frame etc. Sown in spring, they'll grow away easily with very little attention at all.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I use the staddle stones principle ......mice can climb, but they can’t walk upside down. 🙃
In practical terms this means I use a largish seed tray and balance it on a tall narrow plant pot (the sort clematis come in) so there is an overhang all around. Does the trick with no kerosene involved 👍🏻
My mice have plenty of food courtesy of the bird feeders @chicky, so they never touch the sweet peas Good idea though. I think the paraffin system is hideous, and would never entertain it.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl I'm in Fife and I sow them in the cold greenhouse right on boxing day. I follow the Sarah Raven method as she indicates on YouTube. I wish I could link to the video here but you should have a look at it, just search "How to Sow Sweet Peas in the Winter". They do wonderful and I have masses of them. You should try it.
I'll stick to my own method I think @natalien. It's worked for many decades. Mainly sow in spring because they can't go outside before about end of May/early June normally here, so they catch up the autumn ones anyway. This year was different, as I did some in autumn, and we had a warm enough April to plant out, but that's very rare. It's usually still frosts and snow, or low temps and heavy rain, at that time of year here
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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You must need heat if starting them then, they'll need constant pinching out if kept too warm, as well as getting etiolated if inside, so you'll need to turn them regularly
If you do them now, they'll germinate slowly, and slow down as it gets cooler, rarely needing any pinching out, just protection from the worst of winter weather - cold frame etc. Sown in spring, they'll grow away easily with very little attention at all.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
In practical terms this means I use a largish seed tray and balance it on a tall narrow plant pot (the sort clematis come in) so there is an overhang all around. Does the trick with no kerosene involved 👍🏻
Good idea though. I think the paraffin system is hideous, and would never entertain it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They do wonderful and I have masses of them. You should try it.
Mainly sow in spring because they can't go outside before about end of May/early June normally here, so they catch up the autumn ones anyway.
This year was different, as I did some in autumn, and we had a warm enough April to plant out, but that's very rare. It's usually still frosts and snow, or low temps and heavy rain, at that time of year here
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...